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Savannah school bus drivers protest denial of unemployment pay

Chatham County bus drivers and monitors this morning protested a recent rule change instituted by the Georgia Department of Labor that prevents the contracted workers from collecting unemployment during the summer, when school is out of session.

Organized by the Teamsters Local 728 union, the protest outside the local unemployment office on White Bluff Road drew about 80 employees of First Student, which is contracted out by the Savannah-Chatham public school system. The protestors said they did not receive enough notice to prepare for the change and the lost income would hinder their ability to pay bills.

Department of Labor officials say the policy was implemented to make it fair for workers employed directly with the school system who do not receive unemployment pay during the summer, and because unemployment insurance law makes the contracted workers ineligible if there is “reasonable assurance” they will return to work.

For more on this story, read Thursday’s edition of the Savannah Morning News or check online at Savannahnow.com.